The Columban Issue 32 - St Columba's School

16 | ForMer PuPIls ThE COLuMBaN ISSuE 32 ThE COLuMBaN ISSuE 32 ForMer JuNIor scHool PuPIls | 17
Former Staff Lunch
On 11th May some twenty former members of staff, everyone
looking really well, gathered at the River Inn in houston for
what proved to be a most congenial get together. Not all were
recent leavers either, three had left St Columba’s more than
thirty years ago, but still felt part of the family.
Tales of happenings in the intervening years since leaving, of
grandchildren, of travels, of family weddings and anecdotes
of our time spent together, meant that the time passed very
quickly and everyone was reluctant to leave. It looks like this
will become an annual event and it is hoped that numbers will
increase too.
(Rosemary hammond)
Back to School
after 50 Years
On Saturday 17th September, over 20 former pupils returned
to school for their 50th reunion. The ladies thoroughly
enjoyed their tours of Senior School and Junior School and
had fun reminiscing over a collection of old photographs and
magazines. a wonderful lunch was prepared by former pupil,
Marjorie Mann. Thanks to Margaret Tindall for reuniting the
ladies.
Planning a Reunion?
It’s nearly…
10 years since the class of 2002 left.
15 years since the class of 1997 left.
20 years since the class of 1992 left.
Do you fancy having a reunion?
Remember that I am here to help with your reunion
organisation. I can arrange tours of school, provide names
from the database and help you promote the event through a
combination of mailings, the Columban, the school website
and Facebook.
Please contact Nichola McKay at nmckay@st-columbas.org
or call 01505 872238.
Facebook
The FP group page,
‘St Columba’s School,
Kilmacolm’ needs to be
upgraded to Facebook’s
new group format.
It appears that people
may have to rejoin the new formatted page. If so, we will try
our best to let you know, either through a group message or a
wall posting, before we update the page.
Refer a Friend
We are trying to find FPs with whom we have lost contact or
perhaps have never been on the FP database since leaving
School. So it’s favour time! When chatting to your FP friends,
if you know that they don’t receive the Columban, could you
please either ask permission to forward their details to
School or get them to contact School directly. Please email
fps@st-columbas.org. Thanks for your help.
School Magazine
The annual School Magazine will be available in November
and those interested should send their name, address and a
cheque for £5, payable to St Columba’s School, to Rosemary
Reeves at St Columba’s, Duchal Road, Kilmacolm Pa13 4au.
You can also request a copy by downloading the form from the
School website.
Classnotes
Declan laird, 2010
Declan, who left School in fifth year, recently gave up a
two-year deal with Morton Football Club to pursue a career
in hollywood. he has secured a two-year scholarship at the
prestigious Stella adler Studio of acting in Los angeles, which
boasts alumni such as Marlon Brando and Robert de Niro.
Declan was discovered after he entered the junior version of
Lord Sugar’s ‘The apprentice’ and made it to the final 18 (of
28,000 entrants). Despite not being selected, he was invited
by one of the producers to audition for some work on an advert
which took him to hollywood to shoot scenes. he impressed
Milton Justice, a producer who teaches at Stella adler and is
involved in the scholarship programme. Declan will train four
days a week and is one of only 18 young adults from across
the globe to train at the academy. In his relatively short career
he has appeared in ‘River City’ and made it to the last two of
auditions for the part of ‘Paul Ferris’ in the forthcoming film
about the gangster’s life.
There has been a lot of support for Declan over the past year
and he would like to thank his family, friends and local actor,
Jim Sweeney, who have all helped him greatly.
Declan’s brother, Stefan, left St Columba’s in 2006.
he unfortunately had to retire from professional football
due to a knee injury and is now in his final year at aberdeen
university studying International Relations.
Gillian leitch (smith), 2004
having left school in 2004 from sixth year, I worked for the
Royal Bank of Scotland for two years and then a local estate
agent. Following my work with the estate agents, I attended
Glasgow Caledonian university where I gained my Property
Management and Valuation degree. however, I am currently
planning to pursue my love of photography. Damian and I got
married on the 30th July 2011 and our son, Jason, who will be
five in October, was incredibly proud to be our page boy.
There were many FPs at the wedding, including my sister
Kaye and my close friend Emma McPherson, both of whom
were my bridesmaids. Simon Lees was our photographer and
helen Knight was our soloist with my sister Kaye also singing
a beautiful solo.I was very honoured to have my good friend
angelle Rodriguez (Guerre) and her mum Lisa Guerre at the
wedding, who travelled all the way from houston, Texas to
celebrate with us. angelle attended the Junior School for some
time before moving back to the uSa with her family.Damian
and I had a wonderful day and got married in St aloysius
Church in Garnethill, followed by a reception in the garden
of our house in Kilmacolm. We honeymooned in Rome and
Florence, followed by a family holiday in Cyprus, returning just
in time for Jason to start Junior 1 at St Columba’s. I am still in
touch with many people from School and meet up with most
of them regularly.
The following FPs are in the pictures:
Milena and amanda McClatchie, Stephanie Marshall, Gillian
Doole (Prep Teacher), Natalie and Stephanie Formisano, Blair
Macnab, Murray and Julie Thomson, angela Rhodes, helen
Knight, Jen hood, anna Brooks (Laing), Gary Clark, Lucy
Eadie, angelle Rodriguez (Guerre), haddon, Becci and Emma
Mcpherson, Ros Davidson (Gray), heather Glass (Crawford),
andrea Martin and Kaye Smith.
also at the wedding were current Junior 1 pupils anna Watson
(flower girl) and Jason Leitch, plus babysitter extraordinaire
and SVI Duchal head of house, Melissa McLaren.